Pocket corkscrew



Feb. 12, 1929. 1,701,950

W. C. HIERING POCKET CORKS CHEW Filed Feb. 16, 1927 Patented Feb. 12, 1929.

STATES i iii-n PATENT oFFicE.

WILLIAM'G. IIIEPIING, F NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 3'. E. MERGOTT (30.,

0F NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

POCKET GOBKSCREW.

Application filed February 16, 1927. Serial No. 168,575.

This invention relates to improvements in cork-screws of the spiral type arranged to fold within a hollow handle bar when not in use and, to engage a cork by piercing to such extent as to withdraw the same when operated by forcible extraction.

Devices for like purposes are well known and in common use, consisting usually of a handle bar in which the shank of the spiral piercing element is rigidly fixed, rendering the implement unsuitable to be carried in the pocket.

Other devices of a foldable nature are also known, but all are more or less objectionable for a variety of reasons, such as, incomplete encasement, liability of becoming inadvertently unfolded from the sheath, lack of adequate strength at the joint, inadequacy of handle leverage, weakness for averagework to be performed, etc.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to produce a cork-screw of the spiral typo, completely contained within a housing or sheath normally and provided with means whereby it may be readily retracted to be eX- tended at a right angle, substantially central of the sheath, which is utilized as a convenient and effective handle bar by which the spiral is manipulated. v

A further feature is in the provision of an ample and adequate pivot connection between the shank of the spiral and its sheath, which, taken in connection with a pair of opposed, notched spring washers, operate to positively retain the spiral in either of its adjusted positions by pronounced sna engagement.

Another purpose is to proc uce a cork-screw capable of severe duty without failure of parts; that is compactly foldable into small compass of neat appearance, and which can be made mainly from sheet metal at a small cost.

These several advantages are secured by the new design, construction and combination of simple pieces hereafter fully described and illustrated in the annexed drawing, constituting an important portion of this disclosure, and in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a cork-screw made in accordance with the invention, looking from the back.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the complete assembly.

Figure 8 1s a front elevational v1ew of the same, the spiral being extended outwardly and its shank showing in section.

lugure l isa perspective v1ew of one of the spring plate washers.

l igure is a front end view of the cork piercing spiral.

The sheath of the device consists of a sheet metal plate, die struck to form a channel shaped transverse section, its back 10 blending by rounded corners into straight parallel sides 11 closed by a curved wall 12 at one end.

Alt the opposite end a similar closure 13 extends outwardly beyond the front edges of the side walls 11, its terminal being inbent to produce a hool; i l suited to engage under the rim of an ordinary bottle cap, the side walls being reduced in height to admit the mouth oi. a capped bottle.

When the hook is positioned under the cap and the sheath used as a lever, the cap obviously will. be forced from its seat on the bottle top releasing its contents.

Midway in the side walls 11 are openings to receive a rivet 15 having a head at each end and passing through an eye 16 on the end of a shank 17, the other end of which is helically coiled to produce a cork-screw 18 having a tapering outer end terminating in an acute point suited to fold closely adjacent the inner surface of the end wall 12.

The diameter of the coil 18 is such as to fit freely within the channel, substantially level with its outer edges and formed in the outermost coil is a notch 19 to be engaged by the fingers in turning the corkscrew outwardly on its pivot 15 into operative position.

A pair of spring plate washers, generically designated by the numeral 20, are disposed one on each side of the eye 16 on the pivot 15, these Washers being composed of two leaf members 21 slightly bowed to present their ends against the side walls 11, their inreaching central portions 22 containing recesses 23 to clampingly receive the sides of the eye 16.

A perforation 24, axially of the recess, freely fits the pivot 15 and leading outwardly from the recess are grooves 25 extending in opposite directions longitudinally, while a similar groove 26 extends from the recess at a right angle from the grooves 25, these several grooves adapted to receive the shank 17 holding the helix 18 firmly when disposed within the sheath or when extended in operative position.

The reason for the two grooves 25 is to avoid making the spring'washer respectively right and left, the grooves directed towards the hook lt not being used. i I

Due tothe pressure of the spring plates,

the helical screw passes with a distinct snapinto its two positions to be held therein, but

permitting changes to be readily made, and.

it will be understood that when the helix is extended at a right angle, "the sheath constitutes an efficient bar handle for operating purposes.

From the foregoing it willbe seen that a simple device for this purpose has been disclosed in the preferred form of its embodiment, but it is not desired to restrict the details to the exact construction shown, it being obvious that changes, not involving the exercise of invention, may be made without conflicting with the scope of the appended claims.

Havingthus described my invention, what I claiinas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-: l

1. A pocket corkscrew comprising a channel shaped sheath having closed ends, a

' nel shaped sheath, a corkscrew having a shank provided with an eye, a pivot fixed in and passing through the side walls of said sheath at the center thereof to pass through said eye, spring plate washers on said pivot having opposed recesses to clampingly engage sa-id eye and groovesto engage said shank when in said sheath and when operatively extended, said washers bearing at their ends against the level inner side surfaces of the sheath, and a nick in the outer coil of said corkscrew sheath.

I 3. A pocket corkscrew comprising a channeled sheath-like handle, a helically coiled wire corkscrew having a shank terminating ina coiled eye, a pivot fixed midwayrin said 'handle to extend through said eye, spring washers having leaves impinging on the op posite inner walls of the handle and. raised portions containing recesses and grooves to cont-act with said eye and shank when the corkscrew isin either of its adjusted positions, and means formed'in outer portion of said corkscrew whereby it may beraised from the handle. I v 4. A pocket corkscrew"comprising a channelled sheath-like handle, a helically coiled wire corkscrew having a shank terminating in an eye, a pivot fixed in said handleto extend throughrsaid eye, opposed elongated spring 3' aws on said pivot, said jaws having means formed therein to hold the corkscrew firmly when operative'l'y extended at a right angle and also when embedded in said handie, and means formed in one of the coils of said corkscrew to facilitate its extraction.

This specification signed this 10th day of February, 1927. A

WILLIAM C. HIERING.

to "facilitate removal from the 

